Pause in Tariff Implementation Welcomed by Medtech Sector

April 10, 2025

AdvaMed, a national medical device trade organization, of which MichBio is a state affiliate, applauded in a press release, the Trump Administration’s decision to pause plans for reciprocal tariffs. Medtech industry leaders, groups like AdvaMed and MichBio, and many lawmakers had raised alarms of how the now delayed tariffs would cripple the medical supply chain. 


AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker said the group is encouraged by the pause, calling it “an important decision that restores some short-term certainty to global markets, including the American medtech industry, which is number one globally.” 


“Moving forward, we will spend the next 90 days working with the President and his senior team to ensure the unique role of the medtech industry is protected, with the hope that the ultimate outcome is ‘zero for zero’ tariffs on medtech with all key trading partners,” Whitaker said. 


Just hours before the announcement, 28 House Democrats expressed concerns that sweeping tariffs could hurt supply chains for generic drugs and medical devices, creating a risk of shortages.  


Also, the pause comes on the heels of a letter issued by ten healthcare-related organizations that called for medical and dental supplies, equipment and devices to be exempted from the tariffs, as they argued tariffs would put pressure on health systems and hinder the ability to improve treatment outcomes and meet patient needs. 

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